Car-coupling



(No Model.) t

@.BMARK GAR GOUPLING.

BRL-275054.` ,mgl

%ESSES:

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLIE E. MARK, OF FLIN'I, MICHIGAN.

cAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 275,054, dated April 3, 1883.

Application led June 9, 1882.

To all whom tt may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLIE EDGAR MARK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Flint, county of Genesee, Michigan, have invented new and useful Improvements in Car- Couplers, of which the followingis a specification.

My invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in car-couplers.

It has for its objects to provide direct draft on the car, accuracy and positiveness in coupling, and the vibration of the rear end of the draw-bar to couple and uncouple; and with these objects in view my invention consists in the peculiar construction and operation hereinafter fully set forth and specifically claimed.

ln order that those skilled in the art to which the invention appertains may know how to make and use the same, I will proceed to describe the construction and operation, referring by letters to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a plan view of one end of the car-frame with my improved coupler attached. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section taken at the line a: of Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 is a front or end view of the draw-bar.

Similar letters denote like parts in the several gures.

A represents a portion of the car-frame, formed with longitudinal pieces B B, to serve as guides for the draw-head C, and partition D, to support one end of a spiral spring, E, the opposite end ot' which is contined against a loose partition, F, which is free to move longitudinally as the spring contracts and expands.

C is the draw-head, the peculiar construction of which will be presently explained. This draw-head is arranged to pass through the end of the frame A, and is located between the pieces B B, which have inwardly-projecting shoulders a a, as seen at Fig. 1, against which the loose partition F rests when the spring E is in its normal condition. The draw-head is formed with a llaring mouth, as

seen at Fig. 3, to guide and direct the coupling-link, and is cored out interiorly, as clearly shown in the section at Fig. 2, to permit of the vibration of a hook-bar, H. The lower lip of the mouth of the draw-head is provided with a slot or recess, b, to receive the lower 6nd of the hook of the bar H, and with a (No model.)

curved seat, c, against which the end of the coupling-link strikes. The hook-bar H is formed at its front end into a hook, I. curved as shown, so that the contact and pressure of the end ofthe link will cause said'hook end to rise and permit the passage of the link, when the hookv I will immediately fall and grasp the link. That part of the bar H confined within the draw-head is attened or rectangular in cross-sections, and immediately in the rear of thc back end ofthe draw-bar is enlarged to form a curved shoulder, d, next to the draw-bar, and a square or flat shoulder, e, adjacent to the loose partition F, the remainder of the bar being round and passing through central holes inthe loose or fixed partitions F D, and secured in place by a key, J, back of the partition D, the spring E, surrounding the rounded end of the bar H, being confined be tween the two partitions and tending to keep the partitions F always in place against the shoulders a a, and as the bar H is pivoted to the draw-headatfthe draw-baris consequently kept forward, as clearly shown at Figs. 1 and 2, the spring yielding when thedraw-heads of adjacentcars come in contact. The pivotfis at the rear end, as clearly shown, and the greatest weight ofthe draw-head being behind the front of the frame A, (which serves as a rest or support for the front end.) the rear end of the former will fall by gravity until it comes in contact with the top surface ofthe bar H, in rear ofthe pivot, and thus bring the hook end I with relation to the mouth of the draw-head into the position seen at Fig. 2, ready to be acted upon by the coupling-link, which, when it strikes the curved front thereof, is forced down against the lower lip and by pressure at such point lifts the rear end ofthe draw-head, which causes the front end to recede from the hook I and open a channel for the passage of the link, as seen in dotted lines at Fig. 2, and as soon as it reaches its seat o the rear weight of the dra w-head causes it to resume its normal position and to confine the link in an obvious manner.

In order that the link maybe released when desired to uncouple, I provide a rock-shaft, K, passing below the bottom surface ot' the draw- IOO head, and on the said rock-shalt is arranged a t cam or eccentric, L, adapted to come in contact with the lower surface of the draw-bar,

so that When the shaft K is rocked the drawhead will be lifted,said motion beingimparted by lever or crank arms M, or in any other suitable manner. The shouldersv I6 e of the bar H resting against one side of the movable partition F, and the end of the spring E against the opposite side, it Will be readily seen how the spring serves as abumper and returnsthedraW-head toits place. The shoulders d on the bar H are curved in order to permit the vertical movement of the rear end of the draw-head. The recess bin the lower lip of the draw-bar supports the-free end of the hook and secures it against being straightened out by the strain. Y f

It will be observed that the partition F is free to rise when the rear end of the draw-head Gislifted. The hook-bar, also rising and moving on a radius greater than the draw-head, necessarily opens a passage at the lfront end for the link.

What I claim as new,and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In combination with the hook-bar H,

formed at its frontend into a hook, the drawhead G, cored or recessed interiorl y, and pivoted near its back end to the bar H, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

2. The draw-head O and bar H, arranged between guides B B in the frame A, in combination with the rigid partition D, vertical and longitudinally-movable partition F, spring E, and key J, arranged and operating as set forth.

3. The draw-head G and bar H, pivoted together, as described, and arranged within the guides B B on the frame A, in combination with mechanism for lifting the rear end ofthe draw-head, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CHARLIE EDGAR MARK.

Witnesses:

C. S. BROWN, GHAs. D. CHILDS. 

